Chickpeas
Chickpea Packing & Container Loading
Bag types, net weights, marking, palletisation and container loading for chickpea shipments.
Chickpeas are packed in 25 kg and 50 kg woven polypropylene bags as standard, with 25 kg multiwall paper bags available for buyers whose supply chains restrict woven plastic — a requirement that comes up more often for chickpeas than for other pulses, because a larger share of the trade goes into European food processing.
Palletisation is also more common on this commodity, again because of the European destination mix. Pallets consume container volume and reduce the net weight loaded, and heat-treated ISPM 15 wood is required for most destinations, so both need to be priced into the contract rather than added afterwards.
Protecting a fragile seed coat
Kabuli in particular takes skin damage in handling, and damaged skins are visible in a retail pack and after cooking. Handling discipline through bagging, stuffing and discharge matters as much as the packing material itself, and repeated re-handling of a lot is worth avoiding where the visual grade is demanding.
Marking
Marking typically carries the product description including type — Kabuli or Desi — together with size band where contracted, net weight, crop year, country of origin, lot reference and any buyer shipping marks. The description must reconcile with the invoice, packing list and certificate of origin.
Packing
Available packing
25 kg PP woven bag
25 kg netStandard woven polypropylene bag, machine stitched. The most widely handled unit for pulses moving to processors and repackers, because it can be manhandled during discharge without mechanical assistance.
Typical use. General export packing for pigeon peas, mung beans, cowpeas and beans where the receiver breaks bulk by hand.
Consider. Higher bag cost per tonne than 50 kg and more stitching time, but faster and safer discharge at destination.
50 kg PP woven bag
50 kg netHeavier woven polypropylene bag, machine stitched. Fewer bags per container, lower packing cost per tonne, and the traditional unit in several South Asian and African destination markets.
Typical use. Bulk contracts where the receiver has mechanical handling, or where the destination market trades in 50 kg units.
Consider. Some destinations apply manual handling limits at discharge. Confirm the receiving warehouse accepts 50 kg before contracting.
25 kg multiwall paper bag
25 kg netMultiwall kraft paper bag, usually with an inner ply or liner. Preferred by some food processors and by buyers whose own customers restrict woven plastic packaging.
Typical use. Food processing and ingredient supply chains, principally into Europe.
Consider. Less tolerant of rough handling and humidity than woven PP. Availability depends on the packing point and is confirmed per contract.
Buyer-branded bags
Any contracted weightBags printed to the buyer's own artwork, with their brand, product description and any destination-required declarations.
Typical use. Importers and distributors selling under their own label in the destination market.
Consider. The buyer supplies artwork and is responsible for the accuracy of any claim printed on it. Print lead time is added to the shipment schedule.
Palletisation
On requestBags stacked, strapped and where required shrink-wrapped onto pallets for mechanical handling at discharge.
Typical use. Destinations and receivers that require palletised delivery, including many European warehouses.
Consider. Pallets consume container volume and reduce the net weight loaded, and heat-treated (ISPM 15) wood is required for most destinations. Both affect the landed cost per tonne.
Marking
Bag marking
- Product description
- Commodity name in the terms used by the destination market, for example "Pigeon Peas (Toor Whole)" or "Mung Beans (Green Gram)".
- Net weight
- Net weight per bag in kilograms, matching the packing list and weight certificate.
- Crop year
- The season the crop was harvested in. Buyers contract on crop year and it is frequently required on the bag.
- Country of origin
- Marked as required by the destination, most commonly in the form "Produce of Tanzania". This must match the certificate of origin.
- Lot / batch reference
- Links the bag back to intake, cleaning and final-check records for the consignment.
- Buyer shipping marks
- Contract number, buyer reference, destination port and any consignee-specific marking supplied by the buyer.
Indicative container loading
Calculated at an assumed planned net weight of 19 MT per 20 ft container.
| Container | Bag size | Bags | Net weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' GP | 25 kg | 760 | 19,000 kg |
| 20' GP | 50 kg | 380 | 19,000 kg |
Bag counts are arithmetic: planned net weight divided by bag weight. They illustrate that calculation, not a figure confirmed for any particular container. The planned net weight depends on product density, bag dimensions, stowage, the container’s own payload limit and — frequently the binding constraint on East African corridors — road weight limits at origin and destination. It is confirmed at booking.
- 20' GP — The standard unit for bagged pulses. Weight, not volume, is the limiting factor for dense commodities.
- 40' GP — Used where the cargo is volume-limited rather than weight-limited, or where the receiver prefers fewer, larger units.
Request chickpeas availability
Send your target origin, specification, quantity, packing, destination port and Incoterm, and we will come back with a position against the current crop.
- Origin
- Specification
- Crop year
- Quantity
- Packing
- Destination port
- Incoterm